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I get a big laugh watching political ads that interrupt my TV viewing. I especially get the biggest chuckle when one candidate tells how his/her opponent might act on this or that matter. Or by clever editing use their own words against them. I've always felt that I should make up my own mind and not be led by the hand to vote. Also it occurs to me that any furor raised about an opponent is meant to draw you away from more serious inadequacies of the accuser, who hopes you may overlook or not find out about them. I don't vote for any candidate who lambastes their opponent of some fancied wrongdoing, for several reasons. First; I like to scrutinize the background of all the candidates and make up my own mind for whom to vote. Secondly; it seem that these accusing candidates seem to think that they can predict the future, by relating to you what an opponent might do if elected. But I can tell you they can't. Several times I have written to one of those candidates who think they can see into the future, asking for the winning "Powerball" numbers. Not once have I ever received any answer!

Virtually all businesses rely on our system of roads and bridges in order to be profitable. This is especially true for any company in retail or manufacturing, where products and materials have to be transported to the business and then to the consumer. Without serviceable roads and bridges, a vital economy can't exist. This infrastructure system is almost entirely funded through our local, state and federal governments.

Which party in New Hampshire has been a vocal proponent of a vital highway system? The Democrats.

In 2014 SB-367 raised the gas tax by 4 cents per gallon. The $33 million per year raised by this increase has translated into hundreds of miles of paving and preservation on our state highways. While SB-367 is touted as a bi-partisan bill, the truth is that without almost total support from Democrats and Maggie Hassan's leadership, the Republican dominated House and Senate wouldn't have passed this vital bill. Only 11 percent of Republicans voted for it. Eighty-nine percent of Democrats did. The additional 4 cents per gallon is hardly noticeable — look at the difference in gas prices versus 2014. Rough roads, however, are damaging to all vehicles. For people trying to get to work on a budget, high priced auto repairs and decreased gas mileage caused by rough roads are far more costly than a few cents at the pump (not to mention safer). We should also remember that in 2015, the House Republicans actually attempted to cut $88 million from the N.H. Highway Fund.

So when you drive around our beautiful state and see all of the work now being done on our roads, remember that it is our Democratic legislators who are behind it. Also notice that almost all of this work is being done by private companies, putting hundreds of people in private industry to work with good paying jobs. Next time you're driving and you see a paving or construction crew hard at work on a blistering hot summer day, remember that this is where your tax dollars are going — to some of the hardest working men and women in our state working to make New Hampshire a safe and wonderful place to live. Maggie will continue to bring those dollars to our state from Washington, helping to enact Hillary's plan to close our trillion dollar infrastructure gap, and ensuring the sustainability and profitability of our economy for generations.